Why a 14-Inch Curly Wig Looks Like 10 Inches
We took four wigs, all labelled 14 inches, and measured where the hair actually falls. Straight hung at 14 inches. Jerry curly hung at 10. Nothing was missing from any of them - the hair really is 14 inches in all four. Curl simply takes up height. Here is the measurement, why length is measured the way it is, and what it means for the length you should order.
The measurement
| Texture | Labelled | Visible |
|---|---|---|
| Straight | 14 in | 14 in |
| Loose curly | 14 in | 12 in |
| Water wave | 14 in | 11.5 in |
| Jerry curly | 14 in | 10 in |
Same number on the label. Four different places on the body. The tighter the curl pattern, the more height it uses up.
The rule, in two groups
Those are four individual wigs on one day. The useful version is simpler, because textures fall into groups.
| Group | Textures | Hangs shorter by |
|---|---|---|
| Straight | Straight, silky straight | Nothing - hangs true to the label |
| Wavy | Water wave, body wave, loose wave, natural wave, loose curly | 2 to 2.5 inches |
| Curly | Jerry curly, kinky curly, afro 4C | About 4 inches, and afro 4C can be more |
Within the wavy group the exact figure varies a little from wig to wig, which is why we give a range rather than a single number. More on that below.
Why length is measured pulled straight
Every wig on the market, ours included, is measured with a strand held stretched straight from the top of the cap to the end of the hair.
That is not a trick and it is not a way of inflating numbers. It is the only measurement that lets two wigs be compared. If length were measured as the hair naturally falls, a curly wig and a straight wig made from identical hair would carry different numbers, and nothing could be compared across textures or brands.
So the number on the label measures the hair. What you see in the mirror is where it hangs. The gap between them is entirely down to curl.
Why curl takes up length
Think of a spring. Pull it out flat and it might be 14 inches. Let it go and it sits at a fraction of that - but no metal was lost.
Curly hair does the same thing. Every bend and coil uses up vertical distance. Nothing has shrunk and nothing is missing: a 14-inch jerry curly wig contains exactly as much hair as a 14-inch straight one. It simply occupies less height.
The full length chart
The difference stays close to a fixed number of inches rather than scaling with length, so you can read it off directly:
| Label says | Straight hangs at | Wavy hangs at | Curly hangs at |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 in | 10 | 7.5 - 8 | 6 |
| 12 in | 12 | 9.5 - 10 | 8 |
| 14 in | 14 | 11.5 - 12 | 10 |
| 16 in | 16 | 13.5 - 14 | 12 |
| 18 in | 18 | 15.5 - 16 | 14 |
| 20 in | 20 | 17.5 - 18 | 16 |
| 22 in | 22 | 19.5 - 20 | 18 |
| 24 in | 24 | 21.5 - 22 | 20 |
Notice what this does at short lengths. A 10-inch curly wig hangs at around 6 inches - above the chin, far shorter than most people picture when they read "10 inch". Short plus tightly curled is the combination that catches people out most.
These are real measurements, not exact ones
We should be straight about this: our wigs are made by hand, so these figures are close, not precise.
Hair is knotted into the cap by a person, curl pattern varies slightly between batches, and no two heads are the same shape. Wavy textures vary most - that is why the wavy column above is a range rather than a single number, and why our comparison photograph carries this note:
"Handcrafted goods. Wavy hair exhibits minor discrepancies in visually perceived length; the actual appearance of the received product shall prevail."
Expect the figures here to be accurate to within about an inch, not to the millimetre. Anyone publishing an exact figure for handmade hair is telling you something that cannot be true. We would rather give you a working number and tell you its limits.
So what length should you order?
Work backwards from where you want the hair to sit, then add the difference for your texture group.
- Chin length? Straight, 10 to 12 inches. Wavy, 12 to 14. Curly, 14 to 16.
- Collarbone? Straight, around 14. Wavy, around 16. Curly, around 18.
- Shoulder blade? Straight, around 18. Wavy, around 20. Curly, around 22.
The most common mistake we see is ordering a 10 or 12 inch curly wig expecting a chin-length bob, and receiving something that sits much higher. It is not a fault and it is not the wrong item - it is curl doing what curl does.
When in doubt on a curly texture, size up. Length can be trimmed. It cannot be added.
Is this what people mean by "shrinkage"?
Yes - and the word is worth correcting, because it causes unnecessary worry.
"Shrinkage" is the common term, particularly in the natural hair community, and there it simply describes this effect. But the word suggests something has been lost, and nothing has. The hair has not shrunk, contracted or changed length. It measures the same stretched today as the day it was made.
If a wig arrives looking shorter than you pictured, that is not a defect and not a sign of poor quality. On natural-textured hair, a strong difference between stretched and visible length usually indicates a well-defined, healthy curl pattern. Hair that has been over-processed loses curl - and loses this effect along with it.
How to check it yourself
You do not have to take our word for it. Two minutes with a tape measure - the same method we used for the photograph above:
- Put the wig on a stand, or lay it flat.
- Measure from the top of the cap to where the hair naturally ends. That is the visible length.
- Take one section, pull it gently straight without tugging at the knots, and measure again from the same point. That is the labelled length, and it should match what you ordered.
The difference between those two numbers is what this page describes. If the stretched measurement does not match the label, that is a genuine problem - email us and we will sort it out.
Does it change over time?
The stretched length does not. The visible length moves a little.
- After washing, curl tightens and the hair sits higher until it dries and settles.
- In humidity, curl tightens, for the same reason your own hair does.
- Over months of wear, curl loosens slightly with handling and heat, so the hair may hang a little lower than when new. That is normal on human hair.
None of this is damage. To keep curl defined, finger-detangle while damp and never brush curls dry - the full care routine is here.
Why most sellers do not explain this
Because it makes a wig sound shorter, and shorter sounds worse in a product listing.
We would rather you knew before you ordered than after. A customer who receives what she expected does not need to return anything, and we would rather explain the measurement than process the return.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a 14-inch curly wig really?
The hair is genuinely 14 inches measured stretched. Worn, a tightly curled texture such as jerry curly hangs at about 10 inches, and a wavy texture at about 11.5 to 12. Straight hangs at the full 14.
My curly wig arrived shorter than expected. Is it faulty?
Almost certainly not. Stretch one section and measure it. If it matches the label, the wig is correct and what you are seeing is curl taking up height. If the stretched length does not match, contact us.
Do straight wigs have this problem?
No. Straight hair hangs at its full measured length, which is why it is the reference point in the photograph above.
Why is the wavy figure a range instead of one number?
Because wavy is a family rather than a single pattern - water wave, body wave, loose wave and loose curly all sit in the same band - and because the wigs are handmade, so individual pieces vary. A single decimal would look more precise than the truth.
Is the difference bigger on longer wigs?
Not in our experience - it stays close to a fixed number of inches rather than scaling with length. That means the effect is proportionally largest on short wigs, which is exactly where it catches people out.
Will straightening a curly wig make it longer?
It will hang at its full measured length, yes - a straightened 14-inch curly wig hangs at 14 inches. But heat on curly human hair loosens the curl pattern permanently if done often, so it is not something to do routinely.
Should I just order longer to be safe?
On curly textures, generally yes. Bear in mind that longer wigs are also heavier and warmer - weight by cap type is covered here.
Is this the same as shrinkage on natural hair?
Yes, the same effect and the same physics. The difference is that a wig is sold by its stretched length, so the gap between the number and what you see is more noticeable.
Not sure what length to order for the look you want? Email service@soulladywigs.com and tell us where you want the hair to sit. We will tell you which length to buy in the texture you are looking at.
Further reading
- Cap size guide: how to measure your head
- Which salt and pepper shade matches your gray
- How to care for a gray wig, and stop it turning yellow
- Styling a lace front wig without glue
If you are still deciding what to order
Length is only one of the three things that catch people out. The other two are texture and fit.
A guide to wig textures explains what water wave, loose curly and jerry curl actually look like on, which is what decides how much height you lose. Best textures for older women narrows that down if you want something that holds its shape without daily restyling.
If you are also unsure about cap size, the colour and cap size guide covers the 22.5 inch standard and what the adjustable range really means. And if you are choosing between a brown gray blend and true salt and pepper, we compared them side by side.